Easy Exercise Keeps Drivers Moving

Schedule Maintenance

There can be lots of upside to a career as a truck driver, but a very common downside is how hard it can be to stay—or get—fit when you are behind the wheel hour after hour every day. Isolation, sleep deprivation, and easy to grab fast food can make finding motivation to get up and move hard to come by.

Today there are workout apps, classes available by subscription, and all sorts of free information and resources—specifically designed for truckers—to be found by doing a little searching with your keyboard. But there are two important steps to follow when starting any new exercise plan. First, find one that’s easy to stick to and then check with your doctor before you start.

Here are some simple ideas to get you going that don’t require a huge commitment of time or money. Let’s get to work!

As Easy as “Three More, Two More, One and Done”

Whether in your rig, at a truck stop, or even a rest area, there are plenty of options when it comes to exercising on the road. Our tips will get you going with some basics and little to no special equipment, and then you can build up from there.

• On foot – It seems easy to say or do, but just walking can have excellent health and mood-altering benefits. Truck stops and terminals can be large properties and taken advantage of with a pair of shoes and a little motivation. Fun fact: did you know that 32 laps of your tractor-trailer equals about a mile? Now you do.
• In the cab – You may not always have the space or the weather to get outside but there is a lot you can do with just a kettlebell, dumbbell, or resistance bands. If you’re running a sleeper, planks, push-ups, and yoga are all right there, too.
• Out of the cab – Beyond walking and running there is plenty to do; you can even use your truck as part of your workout. Triceps dips, step-ups, and crunches can all be rig assisted, and why not attach TRX suspension cables for a serious full-body workout? Heck, using just an exercise mat can even get you results.
  
  

As the overall health of drivers comes under greater focus by the industry you may even find workout facilities at larger terminals and truck stops, but why chance it? As you can see, it doesn’t take much to start looking out for your physical health and mental well-being.

For the Long Haul

Of course, there is so much to gain (or lose) by starting a new and improved routine today: weight loss, muscle and bone strength, an immunity and energy boost, better breathing and circulation, disease prevention and, of course, a better quality of life for a longer time. People who get regular exercise in their 50s and 60s are 35% less likely to die in the next 8 years.

The benefits of regular exercise for everyone is well-documented, and starting a healthy routine is practical, sound advice. When you consider the lifestyle requirements and challenges of sitting still behind a steering wheel for long stretches of time, it becomes even more important; being a trucker is only one aspect of your life. You are a spouse, a parent, a best friend and you can help ensure you arrive safely—whatever your destination—with just a little effort.